NBA: Calderon wants out of Toronto

Toronto
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After acquiring point guard Kyle Lowry in a trade, it appears as if the Raptors' Jose Calderon, the starting PG from last season, wants out of Toronto.

Reports surfaced Thursday that General Manager of the Raptors Bryan Colangelo and Calderon's agent Mark Bartelstein were working together to try and find a workable solution. Calderon's name has been swirling around in trade rumors for quite some time now. Two summers ago the Raptors thought they had a trade completed with the Charlotte Bobcats that would send Calderon to Charlotte in exchange for Centre Tyson Chandler. The trade never came to fruition and ever since the Raptors have been unable to find an appropriate return for Calderon.

Now that the Raptors have found their man in Lowry, they are looking to dispense themselves of Calderon's contract, while giving him an opportunity to start elsewhere. "There's a little bit of a logjam there in the back court now," Bartelstein said. "Bryan and I are talking and we're putting our heads together to see what we can do to find a solution."

According to ESPN.com, the Raptors and Dallas Mavericks have discussed various Calderon trade scenarios this week. But the Mavericks, longstanding fans of Calderon, have put those talks on hold until they knows how much of their salary-cap space is needed to win the amnesty bidding for former Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand, who will be awarded to the highest bidder among teams with cap room when Brand clears waivers Friday at 5 p.m. following his amnesty release this week by the Sixers.

The Raptors have other needs at the wing position and Lowry makes Calderon more than expendable. If a trade with the Mavericks doesn't work out, there will surely be other suitors for Calderon. The Raptors have plenty of time to trade the veteran Point Guard so for now, let the rumors begin!